1378-01-03, Westminster

To the mayor and bailiffs and all the commonalty of Kyngeston upon Hull. Order upon their allegiance and under pain of forfeiture to deliver to the king's commissioners the goods and merchandise of merchants and men of Scotland brought thither in ships or there found, and the merchants, seamen and others found in such ships who are in their custody or the custody of any of that town for execution of the said commission, suffering no hurt to be done to those persons, any command of the king to the contrary and any excuse notwithstanding, knowing assuredly that if they obey not his commands herein the king will so deal with them as to be an example to others ; as the king has appointed John Conestable of Halsham, John Seynt Quyntyn, Robert de Hilton, Thomas de Beverlay, and Walter de Leycestre and John de Orwell his serjeants at arms, five, four, three and two of them, to make inquisition by true men of Yorkshire concerning such goods and merchandise whatsoever, the description, owners, price or value thereof, to whose hands they are come and how, and who have had the same, the names and sufficiency of the merchants etc. found in those ships and the number of them, and if wool be therein found whether it was of the growth of England or Scotland, to seize the said goods and wool in whose hands soever found and safe keep the wool until further order, and to deliver all such goods and merchandise (wool excepted) and the said merchants, seamen and others to Henry de Percy earl of Northumberland one of the wardens of the marches of Scotland or to his deputies, making indentures to contain the particulars aforesaid that he may answer for men and goods, to arrest all found rebellious herein, and to do certain other things in their commission contained ; and now the king is informed that many men of that town meeting in unlawful assemblies and confederate together are disobeying his said commands, with the strong hand detaining the said goods and men, refusing to deliver them to the king's commissioners, and threatening to slay those men if delivered out of their custody, which if it were done would tend to the hurt and scandal of the king and the whole realm.